WFB 9th Edition Rumor Roundup

[D6Damager]

Actually, that's just an opinion held by those who seem to think the game is some kind of highly paid competitive sport, and thus place all onus on winning.

Not really...I hardly ever play in tournaments. Mostly just pickup games at the FLGS. And while the new releases are making some sales the player pool here in Florida has definitely dwindled down over the years from when I started back in 6th edition.

I would like to be able to use my monsters without being one shotted by a cannon that costs half the points. Its not like you just won't play against war machines either Dwarfs, Empire, Skaven, WOC, DOC, Ogres etc...

OK so all your monsters are getting shot off the board in 2 turns? Let's go with big blocks of infantry that can take a few hits and keep going...oh wait is that an IF cast Dwellers or Purple Sun? Yeah...that happens and frequently.

So unless you have a small and specific player pool for your "beer & pretzels" games where you house rule everything or play by Euro tournament rules restrictions (which doesn't really happen here in the USA) it is a valid concern about game balance and without a doubt has driven a lot of people away from the game.

I realize this is all anecdotal evidence, but just wanted to share what is happening in my neck of the woods.

I'm looking forward to 9th edition changes if it brings more veteran players back into the fold and makes the game more accessible/affordable to new players.

[Wildeybeast]

Actually, that's just an opinion held by those who seem to think the game is some kind of highly paid competitive sport, and thus place all onus on winning.

Yeah. A number of monsters now come with more than 6 wounds or other abilities to resist cannon fire and they do plenty of killing, you just can't expect them to do so without support. Cav are a little underpowered, but a tweak (like impact hits) would sort them out. It's only really Dwarves, Empire and Skaven who have the horrible sniping war machines, so the game isn't overrun with them.

[D6Damager]

Yeah. A number of monsters now come with more than 6 wounds or other abilities to resist cannon fire and they do plenty of killing, you just can't expect them to do so without support. Cav are a little underpowered, but a tweak (like impact hits) would sort them out. It's only really Dwarves, Empire and Skaven who have the horrible sniping war machines, so the game isn't overrun with them.

Isn't the HE Star Dragon the only monster with 7 wounds? I could totally be wrong there.

You forgot some cannons that are very common in popular armies. There's also the Skullcannon in Daemons, Ironblaster in Ogres, which often show up in pairs in those lists and even the Hellcannon in WoC. Those 3 are even nastier than most because they can also do other attacks and/or are harder to kill.

[Mr Mystery]

And cost more points...

Difference is, artillery has a turn life. Much after the 3rd turn, and it's either dead, or has no valid targets as combat has begun in earnest.

And the killing power of them is vastly overstated. Yes, they can inflict up to 6 wounds in a single shot, but that's one in six. And it has to successfully hit first, ideally without destroying itself having achieved nowt...

[Wildeybeast]

And aren't they rare choices? I'm sure the Hellcannon is. Either way, they are far less accessible than the artillery of Empire and Dwarves. And they are competing against much better choices for special and rare slots. Plus there is plenty of stuff that can get to artillery and kill it quickly.

Let's face it, if you take a monster, it has always attracted a lot of firepower, whether mundane or magic or a hero with a hard on for killing big nasty stuff. You expect it. If you are smart, you want it, because whilst that cannon is blowing chunks out of your monster, it isn't turning your elite knights to pate or templating large chunks from your infantry. Which is good, because those are the things that will win you the game, not your monster.

[Mr Mystery]

Yup.

Personally, I find complaints about decent counters to a unit quite pointless, on account everything in Fantasy can kill everything. And given the typically smaller bases, and mental manoeuvrability of Monsters, if you show a bit of forethought, they can become quite difficult targets due to the overshoot and bounce rolls. Typically, most Cannons will 'aim' 8" short of the target. That leaves quite a bit of chance for the dice to give you a swift two fingered salute, either horribly overshooting, misfiring, or not getting close. Thus the overall threat of Artillery isn't as bad as many might think. D6 wounds is also tricky, as you ideally need to one shot the big gribbly, as in the next turn they're typically in charge range (at least for fliers) where they truly come into their own.

Without the threat of Artillery, big monsters would horribly dominate the game!

[Wildeybeast]

I always aim 6 inches short with mine personally, but each to their own.

[Mr Mystery]

I always aim 6 inches short with mine personally, but each to their own.

Hurr!

[lobster-overlord]

the biggest change for me that I would like to have reversed is the removal of range/distance guessing. that was one of the few things in the game I was good at, while I suck at list building, so guess weapons gave me an advantage over friends who could build better armies. when charge distance was randomized, and with guess gone, I stopped playing because my only advantages were gone, and other players were leveled to me on that. pregened lists would have been the only thing that would have balanced me in it as none of my friends played brets enough to know how to buikd a decent list to help me out. (and kids kept me away too due to time)

[Bigred]

OP updated:


Via "Tim the Thief" 10-12-2014

-Warhammer Fantasy 9th Edition & new Starterset next Year
-Starterset becomes "Expansion set" & Mailorder Only special Edition
-Orks & Goblins first 9th editon Armybook

Starter Set of the 9th Edition Warhammer with following content
-simplified Starter Rulebook

-"Armies of Warhammer", simplified Armylists for all
-Orks and Goblins Army
--Ork Warboss
--New Goblinwarriors
--Ork Warriors

-Empire Army
--Captain of the Empire
--New Spearmen (new Design)
--New Musketeers (new Design)
--New Knights (new Design)

The Set becomes an Expansion with Magic as subject
-Small Booklet with Magic Rules
-Additional Models for Mages and two Regiments